Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Interview with C. S. Lakin + Giveaway!!


Howdy everyone,
I have an interview with C. S. Lakin today plus a giveaway of her book, Someone to Blame. This book has a very interesting plot and is a spin-off from an Agatha Christie mystery. Sounds neat, huh? I have one copy to give away to one of my blog readers. Please read to the end of the interview so you can find out how to enter for it.

Thank you for being with us today, Susanne!
How long have you known you wanted to be an author?

I wrote my first novel 23 years ago. I come from a family of successful writers, but never felt inclined to pursue writing as a career, although I’ve always written poetry, prose, short stories, and songs. One day I was hit with a great book idea and started writing. Then, when I finished my first novel, I realized how much I’d loved the long, intense process of developing a novel-length story. I found I love writing novels more than any other creative endeavor, so I’ve been doing it ever since.


Can you tell me a little bit about your newest book?

I wrote Someone to Blame solely for the purpose of having a book to work on in James Bell’s mentor track at Mount Hermon a few years ago. I had written three contemporary mysteries for the commercial market, and was in the midst of writing my fantasy series. But I felt it would be a challenge and fun to try to write something contemporary for the Christian market. Since I had written one psychological spinoff of Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None,” I thought it would be great to do the same thing with her “Murder on the Orient Express,” but set it in a small town rather than on a train. That’s where Someone to Blame got its start. It’s about a town eager to blame a newcomer/drifter who arrives and causes a stir with his behavior. When crimes break out, the locals are quick to peg him as the culprit, which reflects how we often judge people first before getting to know him. I wanted to take the reader on a journey to show just how we do that by getting in the minds of all the people of Breakers and seeing Billy Thurber from their viewpoint. It’s also about a family recovering from horrible tragedy, who relocate in this town as Billy arrives and how their lives become entangled with his. The theme of blame permeates not just the townspeople but also this family, who are suffering in their own feelings of blame regarding the tragedies they’ve experienced.



When a reader gets done with your book, what do you want them to come away with?

I hope to touch readers’ hearts by this intense, moving drama. Mostly, I hope they will think about how they quickly might judge someone they don’t know. But there are also deeper themes in the book—about how God uses the people in our lives and circumstances in ways we might not imagine, and that he opens doors for healing in very unlikely ways sometimes. That God is not predictable, but he is absolutely dependable. That he cares about our hurts and provides healing faithfully.



Is there a place you have always wanted to visit? A vacation spot, historical monument, overseas, etc?

[laugh] My husband gets tired of hearing me dream of going to New Zealand. I kick around ideas of setting my next mystery there so I can write off the trip, but it doesn’t seem to be happening. I really do long to go to NZ more than anywhere else and pray it will be on my world tour book signing someday!



If you could have dinner with 2 people, who would they be?

I love questions like this. I usually choose people who are long dead, so if I have to pick two living people, that would be so hard to decide! For now, I’ll just say my two favorite writers: Elizabeth George (the mystery writer) and Patricia McKillip, who is the best fantasy author alive.

What one event would you love to be at? Historical or future?

That’s kind of a no-brainer, because the ONLY answer to that is Jesus’ return and being ushered into God’s kingdom. But maybe we should not allow that answer. So other than that, I would have loved to witness the creation of this planet and watch how everything transpired in the garden of Eden. And I wouldn’t mind sitting on the Mount and listening to Jesus’ sermon on the Mount.



Do you have a favorite hobby?

I love to scuba dive. I’d rather be hanging out underwater floating around and watching fish than doing anything else, aside from writing. Of course, I love to read and when I find a great book, it just thrills me. Which doesn’t happen too often.



Is there something about you most people wouldn't know?

Probably a lot of things, since not many people know me! I don’t’ think I’m all that unusual. I’m a bit neurotic about feeling I need to accomplish way too many things. A type AAA personality. I’m a huge sci-fi fan and grew up on TV sets, as my mother was a screen writer and TV producer. I used to sit on Peggy Lipton’s chair on location wearing my dark sunglasses so I could look cool like one of the Mod Squad (my mother was story editor for that series).


Do you have any suggestions for the aspiring writer?

Write, write ,write. Attend lots of conferences and workshops. Be humble and learn how to improve your craft, then work hard. Writing may be partially a gift or talent, but like any talent, it needs to be honed and mastered. Don’t complain but put in the hours and it will pay off in time. It took me 23 years to get my first contract, but I see what I needed to go through in life first to become the writer I am now. As much as I complained and lamented all those wasted years, I trust God had a plan all along and his timing is perfect. Being a writer is an act of daily faith. Enjoy the journey and watch God open doors.



Any last thoughts for your readers?

I love working with new authors as a copy editor and writing coach. If you enjoy my books and feel I can help you get your novel in shape, contact me!


And how can they connect with you?

My e-mail is cslakin@gmail.com and my websites for my books are www.someonetoblame.com and www.thegatesofheavenseries.com My personal website is www.cslakin.com

Thanks so much!

READERS-I have one copy of this book, Someone to Blame, to giveaway. Please follow the mandatory instructions to enter for this book.

MANDATORY ENTRY-Tell me your favorite mystery writer. I know some people have more than one but tell me one of your favorites:)

EXTRA ENTRIES-These have to be done after the mandatory entry. Please leave a different comment for each entry you do so that you get all your entries.
1.Be a follower of my blog through GFC.
2.Subscribe to my blog via RSS Feed.
3.Follow me on Twitter.
4.Tweet about this giveaway. Can be done 3 times a day.
5.Subscribe to C.S. Lakin's newsletter here.
6.Blog or post about this on Facebook. Get 2 entries for this so leave 2 entries for each one you post it on.

This giveaway will end 9/21. Winner will be chosen through Random.org. They have 48 hours to respond before another winner will be chosen.

34 comments:

Carmen said...

One of my favs is Randy Singer, as I have a legal background. By Reason of Insanity has got to be one of the best I've read.

desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

Carmen said...

I'm a follower by GFC.
desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

Carmen said...

Already following on Twitter.

desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

Carmen said...

I subscribed to C.S. Lakin's newsletter.

desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

Carmen said...

Posted on FB.

desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

PoCoKat said...

Favorite mystery writer: James Lee Burke

littleone AT shaw DOT ca

PoCoKat said...

GFC follower

littleone AT shaw DOT ca

karenk said...

please count me in...thanks :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

karenk said...

i'm a subscriber :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Christie said...

I read all of Diane Mott Davidson's cooking mysteries.

Jessica H said...

I haven't really read any mystery books but I want to start!

lavagraphicz@etex.net

Jessica H said...

I follow you via GFC

lavagraphicz@etex.net

Amber@Nater Tot said...

Hmmm, haven't read any mysteries in awhile except for the Girl With a Dragon Tattoo and I wasn't impressed! I guess I will go with Carolyn Keene :)

Jessica H said...

I follow you on twitter!

lavagraphicz@etex.net

Cindy said...

Is Ted Dekker considered a mystery writer?

clemay62 at rocketmail dot com

Came over from This for that

Gale said...

Frank E. Peretti (though I'm not sure if technically he's a mystery writer...though a lot of his books contain myteries).

ecarian at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

I guess my all time favorite would be Agatha Christie
amytulk2 (at) hotmail (dot) com

Unknown said...

I follow this blog via GFC!
amytulk2 (at) hotmail (dot) com

Unknown said...

I follow you on Twitter!
amytulk2 (at) hotmail (dot) com

Minding Spot said...

James Patterson is my favorite!

wendyhines at hotmail dot com

April Yedinak said...

I like Patricia Cornwell.

April Yedinak said...

follow via GFC

April Yedinak said...

follow on twitter
@ape2016

Renee said...

Ray Bradbury maybe?
yeloechikee at hotmail dot com

Mary Preston said...

Agatha Christie is my favorite. I think I have nearly all her books - 100+.

marypres@gmail.com

Carole said...

I really enjoyed this interview because I discovered that Susanne and I have some favorite authors in common: Agatha Christie and Elizabeth George. I've mainly watched BBC TV versions of Agatha Christie's works, but I devour each book that Elizabeth George writes. I'm an avid mystery reader and could name many favorite authors, but in answer to Charity's question, I'd have to say Elizabeth George.

I'm glad that Susanne has written a contemporary mystery for the Christian market. Someone to Blame is already on my wish list and I appreciate the chance to win a copy.

cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net

Carole said...

+1 GFC follower

cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net

Carole said...

+1 Subscribe to blog

cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net

Carole said...

+1 Follow on Twitter

cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net

Carole said...

+1 Subscribe to Susanne's newsletter

cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net

Tori said...

i have not read alot of mystery books so I don't have a favorite
vrtheriot@gmail.com

Tori said...

i follow via google connect
vrtheriot@gmail.com

Tori said...

i follow via twitter - mommatori82
vrtheriot@gmail.com

Tori said...

i tweeted:
http://twitter.com/MommaTori82/status/25169868907

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